---
title: "SUBSTITUTE function in Excel: syntax and examples | PracticeExcel"
description: "How to use SUBSTITUTE in Excel and Google Sheets: replace or remove characters in text."
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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://practiceexcelonline.com/llms.txt)

# **The SUBSTITUTE function**

Replaces existing text with new text, everywhere or only the n-th time it appears.

=

SUBSTITUTE(

## **Syntax**

```
SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num])
```

<dl><dt>**text **</dt>
<dd>The text to change.</dd>
<dt>**old_text **</dt>
<dd>The text to replace.</dd>
<dt>**new_text **</dt>
<dd>The replacement. "" removes old_text.</dd>
<dt>**instance_num **(optional)</dt>
<dd>Which occurrence to replace. Left out, every one is replaced.</dd></dl>

## **Examples**

C1`=SUBSTITUTE(<sup>1</sup>A2,<sup>2</sup>"-",<sup>3</sup>"")`

|  | A | B | C |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Code |  | **DK2100** |
| 2 | DK-2100 |  | |

**In plain words:** In <sup>1</sup>the code in A2, replace <sup>2</sup>every dash with <sup>3</sup>nothing.

C1=SUBSTITUTE("a-b-c","-","/",2)

|  | A | B | C |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Code |  | **a-b/c** |
| 2 | DK-2100 |  | |

## **Practice SUBSTITUTE**

- [**1****Count the words in a cell**→](https://practiceexcelonline.com/practice/find-search/count-words-in-cell)

## **Read the guide**

- [**How to clean data in Excel with formulas**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/learn/clean-data-in-excel)

## **Related functions**

- [**TRIM**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/trim)
- [**FIND**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/find)

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